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Drive responsibly July 4: Buzzed driving is drunk driving
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TOPEKA – The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate, but never a time to drink and drive. Throughout the Independence Day holiday and weekend, law enforcement officials will focus on improving roadway safety for those traveling across the state as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s annual safety campaign.

KDOT, the Kansas Turnpike Authority and the Kansas Highway Patrol also encourage motorists to concentrate on safe driving habits and plan ahead before the festivities begin.

“Remember to celebrate safely this upcoming holiday weekend,” said Capt. Candice Breshears, Kansas Highway Patrol. “Please make sure you and your loved ones are always buckled up when you get in a vehicle, and don’t drive impaired or distracted. If you plan on drinking over the weekend, make arrangements to get home safely by designating your sober driver before you celebrate.”

According to KDOT, the state recorded a total of 2,158 alcohol-related crashes in 2021, with 86 people losing their lives in those crashes. These crashes can happen any time of day, but more than three-fourths of the ones involving alcohol in 2021 occurred at night.

“Anytime you are operating a vehicle, it’s always a priority to focus on driving safely,” said Vanessa Spartan, KDOT transportation safety bureau chief. “And with many Fourth of July activities taking place at night, it’s an especially important time to pay attention to the roadway and be aware of other motorists.”

Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above Kansas’ legal limit of .08% are considered alcohol-impaired by law. However, a small amount of alcohol is considered buzzed driving because it can affect a person’s ability to drive. Across the United States in 2021, there were 2,226 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where the driver had a BAC between .01% to .07%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“We encourage drivers to plan ahead to minimize summer travel stress,” said Steve Hewitt, Kansas Turnpike Authority CEO. “Besides having an emergency kit with extra water in your vehicle, a K-TAG makes travel easy and convenient. With a K-TAG, you can move through toll zones without stopping, which improves overall safety, and it also works in Oklahoma, Texas and nearly all of Florida.”

For assistance on a Kansas highway, call KHP at *47 (HP) or *582 (KTA) for the Kansas Turnpike.